Eastern Kansas

INDEPENDENCE: The American Soda Fountain & Sandwich Shoppe

Grab a stool at the counter, and order up one of the from-scratch soups or sandwiches (try the chicken salad) at The American Soda Fountain & Sandwich Shoppe in Independence. Double dip a cone for a sweet ending. (620) 331-0604

BALDWIN CITY: Wheat State Pizza

Top a sweet wheat hand-tossed crust with chicken, barbecue sauce, bacon, mushrooms, red onion and a three-cheese blend for The Wrangler, one of this casual spot’s signature pies. Or choose from a variety of sauces (teriyaki anyone?), toppings and crusts to create your own gourmet masterpiece. (785) 594-2121; Wheat State Pizza [1]

KANSAS CITY: Rosedale Bar-B-Q

Since 1934, patrons have been lining up at this no-frills eatery in the business district for smoked beef, pork or ham sandwiches with Rosedale’s signature spicy sauce. Try the barbecued kielbasa sandwich, a Rosedale specialty, or choose ribs, burnt ends, chicken or turkey. Sides include slaw,potato salad, jalapeño poppers, fries and baked beans. (913) 262-0343; Rosedale Bar-B-Q [2]

FORT SCOTT: El Charro

No need to go south of the Kansas border for authentic Mexican fare. El Charro Manager Noe Loza and his accommodating staff greet you with bottomless bowls of homemade tortilla chips and chunky salsa. Choose from tantalizing main course options such as the Durango combo  with grilled chicken and shrimp served with rice and salad. Save room for cheesecake chimichanga or piping-hot sopapillas served with honey. (620) 223-9944

ALTOONA: Prairie Nut Hut

“It’s just a hole in the wall,” declares owner Rhonda Rohr. Maybe, but to diners who come from practically every state in the U.S. and as far away as China, the 70-year old Prairie Nut Hut in Altoona seems more like a mecca. The allure—and the novelty—has long been the signature deep-fried mountain oysters, once a staple in cattle country. Since Rhonda and her husband, Bobby, bought the modest 40-seat bar and grill, generous servings of chicken-fried steak, frog legs, pork tenders and hamburgers have shared the spotlight. No visit is complete without honoring a Prairie Nut Hut tradition: tossing shucked peanut shells on the floor. (620) 568-2900

PITTSBURG: Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s

Since 1970, Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s, grandchild of long-time chicken rivals Chicken Mary’s and Chicken Annie’s, has served succulent chicken dinners that taste a whole lot like grandma’s—both grandmas, that is. Dating to the 1930s and 40s, the legacy of the dueling chicken eateries is alive and well in southeast Kansas. Regardless of loyalty to Pichler’s, Chicken Mary’s or Chicken Annie’s, on most weekends, thousands of diners flock to the restaurants to get their fill of the deep-fried, bronzed-to-perfection bird
with sides of German potato salad, slaw and spaghetti. (620) 232-9260

BAXTER SPRINGS: Cafe on the Route

Give your taste buds some kicks at this eclectic diner on old Route 66 in Baxter Springs. Housed in the 1870 Crowell Bank building, the cafe has garnered attention for inventive fine-dining choices such as smoked salmon stuffed with apples, bacon and chives served with a mandarin orange glaze. Diners’ favorites include the fried potato salad and 14-ounce cowboy steak. (620) 856-5646; Cafe on the Route [3]

LOUISBURG: Louisburg Cider Mill

At Louisburg Cider Mill, apples are still pressed in the red century-old renovated hay barn on 80 picturesque acres in Louisburg (about 30 miles south of Overland Park). Browse the Country Store and enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the year. At the annual Ciderfest craft fair in late September/early October, families watch cidermaking, climb aboard wagon rides, dine on barbecue, wind through the corn maze and pick out the perfect pumpkin. (800) 748-7765; Louisburg Cider Mill [4]

Central Kansas

COURTLAND: Depot Market and Cider Mill

Courtland’s century-old Santa Fe Depot serves as the farm store for a bountiful patchwork of orchards and gardens along US-36 in north-central Kansas (80 miles northwest of Salina). In season, Depot Market bins overflow with Kansas bounty: apples, pumpkins, gourds, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, watermelon, onions and more. (785) 374-4255

HAYS: Gutierrez Mexican

In addition to quesadillas, fajitas and other South of the border favorites, Gutierrez serves up Starbucks coffee and espresso in its Bravo Coffee Bar. (785) 625-4402; Gutierrez [5]

 HUTCHINSON: Apron Strings Kitchen Store

Anne Dowell’s shop supplies cooking gear ranging from Le Creuset pans to Viking appliances and ingredients that include gourmet mixes, dipping sauces, olive oil and vinegar. Apron Strings will teach patrons to use all this gear. Expert instructors lead regular in-shop classes on topics that include the art of the salad and rolling fine piecrusts. Apron Strings also offers men-only classes. Customers can share favorite recipes in an online cookbook. (620) 259-7339; Apron Springs Kitchen Store [6]

SALINA: Cozy Inn

In 1922, Salina’s aptly named Cozy Inn began serving sliders, burgers nicknamed because cooked sandwiches on waxed paper are whisked down the tiny downtown restaurant’s counter. Nearly 90 years later, the red neon sign and the pungent aroma of ground chuck and onions frying on the original grill still greet customers. Toppings include a pickle, a squirt of ketchup and mustard, no cheese. According to owner, Steve Howard, the Cozy Burger doesn’t need it. Inside, a lucky few get the six stools at the counter, the only seating. A walk-up window allows patrons to take Cozies home or sit outside at one of the picnic tables. (785) 825-2699; Cozy Inn [7]

WICHITA: Barbecue Hot Spots

Wichita is a hotbed of barbecue, with nearly a dozen great restaurants. Delano’s, in a historic shopping area just west of downtown, qualifies as a meat-eater’s paradise. The spicy coleslaw and seasoned fries are pure bliss. (316) 260-4950; Delano Barbeque Company [8] At Jet Bar-B-Q, lunch customers drive through a converted downtown firehouse. Try the brisket, hot links or turkey (316) 262-7299; Jet Bar-B-Q [9] Pig In! Pig Out! is among the most celebrated of the eateries. Owner Derek Cochran has won numerous awards for his brisket, ribs, turkey, pulled pork and hot links served in his modest restaurant that has a view of a grain elevator. (316) 263-7474; Pig In! Pig Out! [10] Bite Me BBQ specializes in pork ribs, seasoned with 14 spices. Like most pit masters, smoking ribs began as a hobby for Coleman Lockett.  (316) 729-2904; Bite Me BBQ [11]

WICHITA: Sabor Latin Bar and Grille

South America embraces Old Town Wichita at this casually upscale restaurant. Sabor has gained raves for a menu that has introduced many to Paella (saffron and rice dish), tostones (double-fried plantains) and parrilla plates (fire- roasted chicken, churasco steak, chorizo and roasted adobo pork). The sancocho soup harmonizes chicken with yucca, corn, chilies, garlic and avocado. (316) 201-4880

YODER: Carriage Crossing

Known for its hearty homemade fare, Carriage Crossing Restaurant in Yoder (40 miles northwest of Wichita) confounds indecisive diners with its vast menu. Choose from fried chicken, lasagna and meatballs. The plain metal exterior doesn’t do justice to the warm and charming atmosphere inside, where breakfast patrons feast on cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates, and lunch and dinner guests struggle to save room for homemade pie. (620) 465-3612

SMOLAN: Hickory Tree Restaurant

School lunches were never as delicious as the hickory-smoked meats and fixin’s you’ll find in this 85-year-old, three-story brick former schoolhouse (seven miles southwest of Salina). Owners Lee and Kathy Holzwarth rescued the building when the school closed in 1987. Diners sit at tables and booths dotting the former gym’s basketball court. (785) 668-2164

Flint Hills Region

MANHATTAN: The Chef

The current incarnation of this downtown icon, reopened in 2008, blends tradition, tasty innovation and college-town spirit. The original neon sign (circa 1943) still hangs outside. There’s a dining room nowadays, or if you’re lucky, you can grab one of eight seats at the counter and order the classic breakfast of bacon, eggs and hash browns. The extensive menu also takes you out of the breakfast and lunch box with offerings like bruschetta frittata and pancakes bananas Foster (The Chef is open until 3 p.m. daily.) (785) 537-6843; The Chef [12] On game days it’s the place to get that tailgating started with a manmosa (beer and orange juice) or a Purple Pride (grape juice and vodka).

COUNCIL GROVE: Hays House

If you look closely, you’ll notice that the front of this 153-year-old eatery stands slightly askew from the present-day Main Street. That’s because the thoroughfare has moved since the days when it carried Santa Fe Trail wagons. The offerings at this restaurant, the longest continuously operating west of the Mississippi River, haven’t changed all that much, though, since Seth Hays, great-grandson of Daniel Boone, built it. Hearty specialties like fried chicken, beef brisket and home-made pie bring in locals as well as visitors from all over. (620) 767-5911; Hays House [13]

WASHINGTON: MarCon Pies

At least 500 pies and cheesecakes come out of ovens daily at MarCon Pies in Washington (80 miles northwest of Manhattan). Around Thanksgiving, that number increases to 1,000. The factory, which grew from the kitchens of two women who made pies for auction lunch stands, supplies the adjacent retail shop as well as grocery stores and restaurants across Kansas and in surrounding states. Made from signature recipes, the pies share a secret: The flaky crust is made with heart-healthier canola oil. (785) 325-2439; MarCon Pies [14]

ABILENE: Kirby House Restaurant

In 1885, Banker Thomas Kirby built a stately Victorian home for his wife and daughter along what was then Grand Avenue (now Third Street). The house and its imposing central turret caused quite a stir in this still-rough-around-the-edges cow town. In less than two decades, Kirby’s wife was a widow and the house had been sold, beginning decades of less-than-grand treatment, including a time when it was divided into apartments. Carefully restored some 23 years ago, Kirby’s legacy endures as a gracious restaurant serving classic American and Southwest dishes. The signature country-fried steak seems a little incongruous in these surroundings. Never mind: It’s some of the best you’ll taste anywhere. The Saturday night prime rib also claims a devoted following. (785) 263-7336; Kirby House Restaurant [15]

BARNES: Our Daily Bread

Maple-flavor icing slathers 5-inch-wide rolls that weighin at almost a pound each atOur Daily Bread Bake Shoppeand Bistro in Barnes (50 miles north of Manhattan). The not-so-secret ingredient? Instant mashed potatoes. The flakes give the rolls a light texture.“It makes the dough soft and keeps it fresh,” says Kate Olson, event coordinator. The family business began in a converted garage in 2002, then moved to a historic building across the street. (866) 502-7323; Our Daily Bread [16]

COTTONWOOD FALLS: Emma Chase Cafe

Just down a broad Main Street from the imposing Chase County Courthouse, the Emma Chase Cafe and Country Store qualifies as a local icon—the sort that you’ll find in a dwindling number of communities. It’s the place where you can count not only on a good meal, but also on meeting neighbors. Locals gather at this homey spot for morning coffee. Hearty lunches and dinner specials like chicken-fried steak and Friday-night music draws guests from all over. (620) 273-6020;  Emma Chase Cafe [17]

COTTONWOOD FALLS: Grand Central Grill

Because the prime beef is aged and cut on-site, you can order yours by the ounce. Fair warning, though: You might want to double your normal quantity. In the dining room of the acclaimed Grand Central Hotel, the perfectly prepared steaks go beyond tempting to downright seductive. One more caveat: Most of the menu of mainly house-made specialties can be hard to resist, from signature tortilla chips to from-scratch bread pudding. The sleek surroundings enhance these exceptional flavors. In a redone vintage brick building also near the historic courthouse, the hotel hasn’t forgotten its roots. Grill prices remain relatively moderate, and many evenings, neighbors fill most tables. (620) 273-6763; Grand Central Grill [18]

Western Kansas

OAKLEY: Don’s Drive-In

Carhops still deliver meals to customers parked under the red-and-white striped awning at Don’s Drive-In Cafe. Established in 1961, the burger joint is a couple miles south of I-70 (50 miles east of Goodland). Owner Don Shull has been flipping burgers for almost as long. Regulars are apt to order curly fries and the super cheeseburger, a whopping sandwich of two beef patties and dual slices of American cheese nestled in a 5-inch sesame seed bun. The hamburger comes with pickle, onion and a blend of ketchup and mustard. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the pickle-o, a pickle dredged in onion ring batter and then deep fried (785) 672-3965

ATWOOD: Aberdeen Steakhouse and Pub

Freshly cut Angus steaks, including a 20-ounce porterhouse, buffalo burgers, bread made from organic wheat flour and homegrown vegetables (in season) star at this eatery in the historic 1907 Shirley Opera House (66 miles northeast of Goodland). The Aberdeen Pub frequently features live music. Diners who happen in on open-mic nights can sign up for Perform for Your Supper contests. (785) 626-3740

BIRD CITY: Big Ed’s Steakhouse

Hundreds of regulars and a steady stream of first-timers flock to this restaurant and tavern in tiny Bird City, in the far corner of northwestern Kansas (40 miles northeast of Goodland). They come for one reason—steaks! All are hand-cut and flavored with a secret seasoning; the meat choices range from 16-ounce filets to the sidesplitting 24-ounce Big Ed T-bone and a 30-ounce prime rib. Big Ed’s doesn’t bother serving dessert, because no one ever has room. (785) 734-2556

CIMARRON: The Kansas Wheat House

Once upon a time, say a decade or two ago, home economics teacher Shirley Voran got the wild notion to take the bounty of Kansas—sunflower seeds, wheat nubs, soy nuts—blend in caramel and then dip the whole works in chocolate. The cow patti was born, and it’s the hottest item on the shelves of this little storefront (20 miles west of Dodge City) and online. Shirley and her husband, David, also transform some of the harvest from their 1,200 acres into bread, pancake mixes and snacks. (800) 261-6251; Kansas Wheat House [19]

LIBERAL: Bob’s Diner

Try to be really hungry when you grab one of the 10 counter stools at Bob’s Diner in Liberal (85 miles southwest of Dodge City). Opened in 1957, this eatery on North Kansas Avenue is known for its nap-inducing three-patty Big Jack Burgers, soul-satisfying chili and old-fashioned milk shakes and malts. Bob’s occupies one of the venerable prefab Valentine Diner buildings built in Wichita and shipped across America after World War II. (620) 624-6466

NORTON: Destination Kitchen and Pure Prairie Natural Foods

This small farm town (about 60 miles north of WaKeeney) offers foodies two choice stops. Destination Kitchen stocks cookware, countertop appliances, gadgets and ingredients. In other words, owners Georgia Mann and Cindy Boller stocked the shelves with stuff they’d want in their kitchens. They also serve from-scratch lunches Tuesday through Saturday at the former hardware store (785) 877-2911; Destination Kitchen [20] A couple blocks away, Pure Prairie Natural Foods sells organic produce and meat, homemade breads, and daily lunch. (785) 877-3610; Pure Prairie Natural Foods [21]

OBERLIN: Teller Room LandMark Inn

Steaks, seafood and German chocolate hot fudge à la mode are among the menu favorites dished in the Teller Room Restaurant. Guests dine in the splendidly restored lobby of the 1886 Bank of Oberlin, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (90 miles northeast of Goodland). The downtown restaurant is the centerpiece of the seven-suite LandMark Inn Bed and Breakfast. (888) 639-0003; LandMark Inn [22]

WAKEENEY: Western Kansas Saloon and Grill

Steaks star at this eatery and tavern in a vintage downtown hardware building with a pressed-tin ceiling (95 miles north of Dodge City). Authentic Old West touches include a freight elevator, skylight and creaky wood floor with a small hole. Back in the day, the hardware proprietor would drop a coin to warn gamblers in the basement that the law had just walked through the front door. (785) 743-2050; Western Kansas Saloon and Grill [23]